Folding bed.



No. 861,779. I PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

Q J. L. TANDY.

FOLDING BED.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 14, 1907.

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.No. 861,779. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907. J. L. TANDY.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED my 14, 1907.

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JOHN L. TANDY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FOLDING BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed May 14, 1907. Serial No. 373,622,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. TANDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding beds and more particularly to folding beds of that type known as mantel folding beds, and my object is to produce a folding bed of this character which can be folded or unfolded easily, and which cannot buckle under the tension of the spring, and which furthermore can not unfold accidentally.

A further object is to produce a folding bed of this character in which it will be impossible for the head frame to tip over upon an occupant and which can be collapsed for convenience of shipment.

With these general objects in view and others as hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l, is a side elevation of a folding bed embodying my invention, with the foot section folded to inoperative position and with the mantel or top of the head frame in vertical section. Fig. 2, is a fragmentary View of the bed from the foot side of the same, when the foot section occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a fragmentary plan view of the intermediate and foot sections. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a fragmentary view of the bed when folded and as viewed from the foot end thereof. Fig. 6, is a vertical section taken on the line VlVI of Fig. 5, with the foot-rail-section leg-folding parts omitted. Fig. 7, is a view similar to the foot end of Fig. 1 but showing a modified construction. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the connection between the head rail and intermediate sections. Fig. 9 is a view showing the inner side of the foot end of one of the intermediate-section rails, an extension pivoted thereto and a catch pivoted to the section.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates a head frame consisting of a pair of vertical angle irons 2, a superposed piece 3, preferably of wood, connecting the upper ends of the angle irons and a mantel 4 projecting forwardly from the cross piece 3. Secured to the underside of the ends of the mantel are strips 5 and connecting said strips and secured to and underlying the front edge of the mantel is a strip 6. The strips 5and 6 give the mantel the appearance of stoutness and solidity and the strip 6 also serves as a support for the draperies, not shown; all other beds on the market of which I have knowledge having mantels so thin that they are practically hidden by the draperies suspend- I ed therefrom. The strip 6 has another function hereinafter referred to. The mantel is preferably braced from the angle irons 2 by means of inclined braces 7.

The head rail section of the bed is of U-shape in plan view and consists of the angle iron head rail 8 and arms projecting therefrom, the head rail section being pivoted at 1.0 to and between angle irons 2 of the head frame and braced rigidly in a horizontal position by inclined braces 11, pivotally secured at their opposite ends to irons 2 and arms 9.

The leg frame comprises a pair of angle iron legs 12, connected by cross bar 13, the upper end of said leg frame being pivoted on bolts 14 carried by the arms 9, and said leg frame is braced rigidly so as to diverge downwardly and forwardly with respect to angle irons 2, by inclined braces 15 pivotally secured at their opposite ends to arms 9 and legs 12.

16 indicates casters for the legs 12 and also for the head frame.

The intermediate frame comprises side rails 17 pivoted at their head ends on pivots 14, and a second leg frame comprising a pair of angle iron legs 18 and the connecting bar 19, the upper end of the leg frame 18 being pivoted on bolts 20 to rails 17.

21 is a link pivotally connected at its ends to arms 22 and 23 secured rigidly to cross bars 13 and 19 respectively.

Pivoted on bolts 24 carried by side rails 17 of the intermediate section is a U-shaped angle iron foot section 25, the end rail and side arms of said section being preferably braced by the oblique braces 25, the side portions of said arms being a little longer than the companion portions in order that the latter may engage the side rails 17 as shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 7, it being noted that in said figures the foot portion is swung toward the head frame until past the center of gravity, and that the engagement referred to will insure its retention in such position. Pivoted on bolts 26 carried by the arms of the foot-rail section 25 is a substantially U-shaped clamp 27 and rigidly secured by bolts 26 and 28 to said clamp externally is a second U-shaped clamp 29 with pins 30 projecting inward from its arms and adapted for engagement at times by notched catches 31 pivoted to the arms of said foot rail section.

32 indicates bars secured to the outer sides of rails 17 on bolts 20 and bolts 33, and 34 are links pivotally mounted on bolts 33 and pivotally connected at their opposite ends by bolts 35 to the normally lower ends of the U-shaped clamp 27, said links 34 being adapted to swing said clamp from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4.

36 indicate legs arranged-at the inner sides of the arms of the foot section and pivoted on bolts 26 and provided at their lower ends with inwardly projecting feet 37, and pivotally connecting such legs with bars 32 are links 38, the pivotal connection with the bars being by means of bolts 39 and with the legs by bolts 40. Said links are for the purpose of folding or unfolding the legs 36 as the foot section is folded or unfolded respectively,

spring, not shown, is secured to the head rail, intermei diate and foot rail sections, and is tensioned, it tends to cause the connected ends of the intermediate and foot rail sections to buckle or break upward and to prevent this, I provide the rails 17 with extensions 4], to underlie the contiguous ends of the arms of the foot-rail section as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, which extensions are preferably pivoted to said rail 1.7 so as to be capable of swinging from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to permit the intermediate section to be swung to the folded position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, after which the pivoted extensions 41 are swung back to their original positions and thus disposed at the rear side of strip 6 for the purpose of holding the bed in its folded position. The principal function of the bars 41 is to act as an extension for rails 17 to prevent the intermediate and foot rail sections from buckling upward as hereinbefore explained. They also form a rest for the mantel as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

To insure that the foot-rail section shall assume its proper position when folded, a substantially V-shaped guide 42 is secured to each angle iron 2 of the headframe, and to automatically and reliably secure the bed in its folded position, I provide a catch 43, preferably of obtuse angle form, and pivoted as at 44 to the bracket 45 depending from the mantel, the lower edge of the catch being formed with a series of ratchet teeth 47 over which the foot-rail shall successively slip as the bed is folded, one or the other of said teeth being adapted to catch and engage on such section and prevent it moving forward until the catch is raised. The preferred 1 method of tripping the catch is through the medium of a cord 48 which extends over guides 49 of the mantel and is attached at its rear and lower end to the catch. i

A forward pull upon the cord will trip the catch and thus permit the operator to unfold the bed.

the bed section in the usual manner. When the foot rail section is swung to the position shown in Fig. l, the mattress will bend coincidently with pivots 24 and at i the same time the upwardly moving part of the mati tress and bedding-particularly the latter--is prevented from falling, by the U-shaped clamps 27 and 29 particularly the latter, the resistance of the mattress and the bedding to such clamping action being overi plies downward pressure on clamp 27, which causes pin 30 to impose downward pressure on catches 31 to cause the latter to swing down to the inoperative position shown in full lines Fig. 1. The foot rail section can then be swung down to operative position.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the caster-equipped leg frame is so disposed that pivot bolts 14 are back of the center of casters 16 even when the latter occupy their rearmost position. By this arrangement it is impossible, irrespective of where the weight is applied on the bed, to cause the head frame to tip downwardly and forwardly. With the casters of the leg frame back of the vertical plane of pivot bolts 14, the imposition of a preponderating weight in the plane of said bolts might cause the head frame to tip forward with the casters of the leg frame as the axis of such movement, it being obvious of course that such tipping incidentally involves a relatively upward or folding movement of the intermediate section.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noticed that in lieu of thrust links 34, I employ a pair of pull links 50 pivoted at one end on bolts 39 at the opposite side of pivot bolts 24 from pivot bolts 33 of Fig. 1, and pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links with clamps at the opposite sides of the pivotal points of the latter from bolts 35 as shown in Fig. 1. In other words, the position of the links 34 is exactly reversed in Figs. 1 and Fig. 7 and as a result said links in Fig. 7 pull the clamps instead of pushing them against the mattress asin Fig. 1, the arrangement for exerting the pulling pressure through said links being better as the links may be made of thinner and lighter material and yet increase the strength of the structure as a whole, it being further noted that the extensions 51 to which links 38 and 50 are attached are pivoted to rails 17 so as to be capable of folding in a vertical plane under the same. Bolts 52 employed to hold the extensions 51 normally rigid with respect to rails 17, must be removed when the bed is to be collapsed for shipment as hereinafter explained, and it is to be further noted that said ex tensions are equipped with pivoted catch buttons 53 to be turned at right angles to the extensions when folding the bed and in line with said extensions when it is desired to dispose said buttons rearward of strip 6. When in the lastnamed position the buttons not only prevent unfolding of the bed but also act as a support 3 or rest for the mantel, the same thing being true of ex- The mattress and bedding, not shown, is placed upon 1 tension 51. Where it is desired .to lock the U-shaped clamps-27 and 29 in the position shown in Fig. 4 as well as in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pivoted catches 31 will be engaged with pivot bolts 35, said bolts projecting outward a sufficient distance for engagement by said catches. This locking of the clamps in the position shown in Fig. l is chiefly desirable where such clamps are adapted to be operated by hand instead of automatically but even where the automatic attachment for operating the clamps is employed it will be found advantageous to have the catches capable of engaging bolts 35 as by thuslocking the clamps it will be impossible for the spring, not shown, to lift the foot rail section, even slightly.

When it is desired to collapse the bed for shipment one of the bolts securing either the lower or upper ends of each brace 11 is removed, the bolts securing either the upper or lower ends of braces 15 are also removed and bolts 33 and 39 are removed. In the construction shown in Fig. 7 it is necessary to remove the bolts 39 and bolts 52. The mantel, including the cross piece 3, is also removed and then the head-rail section and the intermediate section are swung upward until they rest against the head frame and are substantially parallel therewith. The leg frames are then swung downward on pivots 14 and 20 until they come into engagement with arms 9 and rails 17 and the foot section is swung downward in the same direction until it and the parts carried thereby are substantially parallel with the intermediate section. The parts are tied or otherwise secured in such collapsed relation and thus occupy a space in shipment equal to one-fourth of the space which the folded bed would occupy, it being understood that in the construction shown in Figs. 7. and 9 it is essential that the extensions 51 shall be folded back under rails 17 to permit the foot rail section 25 to be folded to the position described. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the bars 32 are also preferably folded on pivot bolts 20 to permit the foot section to be folded in more nearly parallel relation with the intermediate section than would otherwise be possible.

I have produced a folding bed possessing the features of advantage enumerated as desirable and I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be restricted to the exact details of construction shown and described as obvious modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.-

1. In a folding bed, a head frame equipped with a mantel, a head-rail section secured at its head end to the same, a leg frame depending from the foot-end of such section, a foot-rail section provided with foldable legs, an intermediate section pivotally connecting the head and foot-rail sections, a leg frame pivoted to the foot end of' the intermediate section and pivotally linked to the first-named leg frame, and yieldingly actuated means for automatically locking the foot-rail and intermediate sections in folded relation with the head-frame.

2. In a folding bed, a head-frame equipped with a mantel, a head-rail section secured at its head end to the same, a leg frame depending from the foot-end of such section, a foot-rail section provided with foldable legs, an intermediate section pivotally connecting the head and foot-rail sections, a leg frame pivoted to the foot-end of the intermediate section and pivotally linked to the first-named leg frame, yieldingly actuated means for automatically locking the foot-rail and intermediate sections in folded relation with the head-frame, and means to unlock the locking means.

3. In a folding bed, a head-frame equipped with a mantel, a head-rail section secured at its head end to the same, a leg frame depending from the foot-end of such section, a foot-rail section provided with foldable legs, an intermediate section pivotally connecting the head and foot-rail sections, a leg frame pivoted to the foot-end of the intermediate section and pivotally linked to the first-named leg frame, yieldingly actuated means for automatically locking the foot rail and intermediate sections in folded relation with the head frame, and substantially V-shaped guides attached to the head frame for engagement by and to guide the foot-rail section into proper folded relation with the head frame.

4 In a folding bed, the combination of a head-frame, a head rail section secured thereto, a foot-rail section, an intermediate section pivotally connecting the head rail and foot rail sections, a leg frame connected to the head rail section and having its lower end at the opposite side of its From the above description it will be apparent that point of connection with the head rail section from the head-frame, a leg section pivoted to the intermediate sec tion and pivotally linked to the first-named leg frame, and legs pivoted to the foot rail section.

5. In a folding bed, the combination of a head-frame, a' v head-rail section secured thereto, a foot-rail section, an intermediate section pivotally connecting the head rail and feet rail sections, a leg frame connected to the head rail section and having its lower end at the opposite side of its point of connection with the head rail section from the head-frame, a leg section pivoted to the intermediate section and pivotally linked to the first-named leg frame, legs pivoted to the foot rail section, and extensions secured to the intermediate section and underlying the foot-rail section when the latter is unfolded.

G. In a folding bed, a head-frame, a head rail section secured thereto, an intermediate section pivoted to the 11ead rail section, a foot-rail section pivoted to the intermediate section, legs pivoted to the foot-rail section and connections between the intermediate section and said legs to fold or unfold the latter accordingly as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded respectively.

7. In a folding bed, as'ection, a foot rail section pivoted thereto, legs pivoted to the foot-rail section, connections between the first-named section and said legs to fold or unfold the latter accordingly as the foot rail section is folded or unfolded respectively, a substantially (I-shaped clamp pivoted to the foot-rail section, and connections between the first-named section and said clamp to pivotally operate the latter as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded.

8. In a folding bed, a section, a foot-rail section pivoted thereto, legs pivoted to the foot-rail section, connections between the first-named section and said legs to fold or unfold the latter accordingly as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded respectively, a substantially II-shaped clamp pivoted to the foot-rail section, a second clamp movable with the first, and connections between the first-named section and said clamps to pivotally operate the latter as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded.

9. In a folding bed, a section, a foot-rail section pivoted thereto, legs pivoted to the foot-rail section, connections between the first-named section and said legs to fold or unfold the latter accordingly as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded respectively, a substantially KI-shaped clamp pivoted to the foot-rail section, a second clamp mov- .able with the first, connections between the first-named section and said clamps to pivotally operate the latter as the foot rail section is folded or unfolded, and means carried by the foot rail section and adapted to lock said clamps in their folded or unfolded positions according as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded.

10. In a folding bed, a section, a foot rail section pivoted thereto, legs pivoted to the foot rail section, connections between the first-named section and said legs to folder unfold the latter accordingly as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded respectively, a substantially U-shaped clamp pivoted to the foot-rail section, a second clamp movable with the first, and means for locking the clamps and the foot-rail section in their folded position.

11. In a folding bed, a section, a foot rail section pivoted thereto, legs pivoted to the foot rail section, connections between the first-named section and said legs to fold or unfold the latter accordingly as the foot rail section is folded or unfolded respectively, a substantially U-shaped clamp pivoted to the foot-rail section, a second clamp movable with the first, connections between the iirst-named section and said clamps to pivotally operate the latter as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded, and means for locking the clamps and the foot-rail section in their folded position.

12. In a folding bed, a section, a foot-rail section pivoted thereto, legs pivoted to the foot-rail section, connections between the first-named section and said legs to fold or unfold the latter accordingly as the footrail section is folded ornnfolded respectively, a substantially II-shaped clamp pivoted to the foot-rail section, a second clamp movable with the first, connections between the firstnan1ed section and said clamps to pivotally operate the latter as the foot-rail section is folded or unfolded, and a catch pivoted to the foot-rail section and adapted for engagement with the clamps to hold them folded when the foot-rail section is folded and unfolded when the foot-rail section is unfolded.

13. In a folding bed, a head frame having a mantel provided with a depending front strip, a head-rail section secured to the head frame and substantially paralleling the mantel, an intermediate section pivoted to the foot-end of the head-rail section and adapted to fold upwardly under the mantel, legs pivoted to the foot-end of the intermediate section and connected to the head rail section to be folded thereby against the intermediate section as the latter is folded, a foot-rail section provided with pivoted legs, links connecting said legs with the intermediate section to fold said legs as the foot-rail section is folded, and extensions pivoted to the intermediate section and adapted to be dis posed laterally thereto as the same is folded and then swung into alinement with said section back of the depending' front bar of the mantel.

14. In a folding bed, a head-frame, a headmail section pivoted thereto, a bra'ce'connecting the head-frame and the head-rail section and pivoted to one of them and detachably connected to the other, a leg-frame pivoted to the head-rail section, a brace connecting the same and the legframe and pivoted to one of them and detachably connected JOHN L. 'lANDY;

Witnesses:

H. C. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE. 

